Taurus
Race Images Palmerston North
Taurus will be kept on the fresh side in his chase for consecutive black type victories.
The genuine wet weather performer won the Listed Ag Challenge Stakes on his home track at Wanganui earlier this month and he won't race again before the Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup at New Plymouth on July 23.
"He's come through his last run really well and we may give him a jump-out and he will definitely have a gallop between races at Wanganui (on July 7), most probably with Ginner Hart," said J. J Rayner, who trains Taurus with her father Evan.
"We'll just keep him ticking over and after Opunake we'll head to Riccarton."
Taurus will be treading a familiar path as he was runner-up in both the Opunake Cup and the Gr.3 Winter Cup in 2013 and two years ago he finished sixth in both events.
Stablemate Mr Mor is also bound for Riccarton and he will continue his preparation for the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase at Hastings this weekend.
"He'll run in the Hawke's Bay Steeples and then on to Wellington before Christchurch," Rayner said.
Mr Mor won the Hastings feature and the Wellington Steeplechase last year before he finished second to High Forty in the Grand National.
Most recently, the rising 12-year-old ran fourth in the Manawatu Steeplechase.
"He really needed that run and he's improved a lot since," Rayner said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The genuine wet weather performer won the Listed Ag Challenge Stakes on his home track at Wanganui earlier this month and he won't race again before the Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup at New Plymouth on July 23.
"He's come through his last run really well and we may give him a jump-out and he will definitely have a gallop between races at Wanganui (on July 7), most probably with Ginner Hart," said J. J Rayner, who trains Taurus with her father Evan.
"We'll just keep him ticking over and after Opunake we'll head to Riccarton."
Taurus will be treading a familiar path as he was runner-up in both the Opunake Cup and the Gr.3 Winter Cup in 2013 and two years ago he finished sixth in both events.
Stablemate Mr Mor is also bound for Riccarton and he will continue his preparation for the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase at Hastings this weekend.
"He'll run in the Hawke's Bay Steeples and then on to Wellington before Christchurch," Rayner said.
Mr Mor won the Hastings feature and the Wellington Steeplechase last year before he finished second to High Forty in the Grand National.
Most recently, the rising 12-year-old ran fourth in the Manawatu Steeplechase.
"He really needed that run and he's improved a lot since," Rayner said. – NZ Racing Desk.